Sexuality and gender are spectrums, as is autism. People’s sexuality and gender identities do not necessarily conform to specific guidelines. In fact, it is more common for autistic individuals to deviate from gender norms. Gender norms are set ideas that attempt to dictate the ways a person should act, look, and identify based on their…
The pandemic has turned the hiring and working world upside down. Whatever your situation, your workplace is seeing an influx of newbies, and it’s likely that one of those newbies may be autistic. I am autistic, and I’d worked from home since 2018 because I had burned out on trying to manage my autism in…
Motivation and learning to drive go hand in hand. Whether you’re a parent who is hoping to engage their kid in the excitement of learning to drive or an autistic individual who sees driving as a valuable resource but isn’t excited to learn. Motivation is a constant part of the learning to drive experience. It’s…
I am here today because I am not only proud to be autistic every day, I am here to spread my pride in identifying as autistic and a Black person to the world! You see, autism is in every community and every ethnic group. Autism pride is everywhere! In fact, I embrace ways that people…
In my last post, I talked about why authentic representations of autism are so important for both autistic and non-autistic readers. I also shared some great books by autistic authors that I hope you add to your collection. We should all try to amplify more autistic voices! But perhaps you, as a reader, would also…
Since receiving my son’s diagnosis, I have dreaded the moment when I must explain what it means to be autistic. Some have said I am fortunate because I have an intimate understanding of autism—having received my own diagnosis. While it was not presented to me softly, I plan to give my children a gentler introduction…
With a new initiative recently introduced by the International Society on Autism Research (INSAR), autistic people and their family members can partner with autism researchers to assist with designing, conducting, and disseminating research studies. The goal is to facilitate working relationships between researchers and those who could benefit from the research being conducted. The INSAR…
OAR is once again hosting a three-part webinar series in celebration of autism acceptance month. Join us this spring as we learn about community-based participatory research (CBPR). What is it, and why is it so important? What are some ways we can meaningfully engage autistic stakeholders as we design, implement, and disseminate our own work?…
College. The word conjures up so many images and experiences. For students in their freshmen year, those experiences are likely to include adjusting to independence, exciting opportunities to grow, and keeping up with a rigorous academic schedule. These resources help students with autism know what to expect and how to adapt to college life and…
